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CORPORAL HARRY J. DAVIS
was born Edward J. Marz in the summer of 1897 in Jersey City, New Jersey
to Edward and Hannah Marz. When he enlisted in the United States Army in
August of 1917 it was under an assumed name, Harr J. Davis.
The
1910 Census shows Edward Marz, his parents, and young siblings William,
Walter, Paul, and Lena living on Pierce Street in Philadelphia. His
father worked as a stationary engineer at a bakery.Two more children,
Viola and Raymond, came after 1910.
Army
records indicate that Edward Marz had lived in Camden prior to enlisting
in the Army. As Harry J. Davis he was assigned to Company D, 60th
Infantry Regiment. He was promoted to Corporal in February of 1918, and
went overseas with his unit in April of that year.
Corporal
Davis was killed in action on October 4, 1918 at Cunel, France, where
his actions caused him to be posthumously awarded the Distinguished
Service Cross. His citation reads "While the advance of his platoon was being
held up by deadly enfilading fire of the enemy, Corporal Davis
voluntarily rushed over open ground, through direct machine-gun fire,
for a distance of over 100 meters, and, with the aid of his bayonet
attacked the nest. He killed both of the gunners, thereby silencing the
fire but during the combat he himself was severely wounded."
Corproal
Davis was survived by his parents, brothers, and sisters, who were still
living on Pierce Street in Philadelphia when the census was taken in
January of 1920.
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